For the past
few months, police departments have been using a new iris scanning device to identify people they encounter. Many
more police departments will begin using this device soon. The scanner
can be held up to the eye of any person and almost instantly identify them more accurately than a fingerprint.
Police have imposed restrictions on themselves to prevent misuse
of iris scanners. Like a chubby kid guarding a Happy Meal, indulgence
is more likely than restraint.

Currently,
iris scanners are limited to checking the person scanned against
a national database of iris scans. This database presumably only
contains criminals, children and individuals who may need assistance,
like alzheimers patients. The devices are not supposed to be able
to capture and store new entries. These self-imposed limitations
may only be temporary.